Faith Evans Announces Notorious BIG Duets “The King & I”

R & B star Faith Evans announced on Friday that “The King & I” will be released on May 19, two days before what would have been the rapper’s 45th birthday. The Notorious B.I.G. — also known as Biggie Smalls and born Christopher Wallace — was gunned down in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997. Evans and Wallace were still legally married but estranged at the time of his death. The couple met on a photo shoot in 1994 and married nine days later. Both were artists on the Bad Boy record label. Their romance was the hip hop version of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, complete with public accusations of infidelity and blow out fights.

According to Evan’s site, the album will contain 25 tracks featuring newly recorded vocals by Evans combined with the rapper’s vocals. The project will include both well-known songs and “a selection of rare and unheard rhymes from the B.I.G. vault. ” Guest artists will include Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Lil’ Cease, Lil’ Kim, Sheek Louch, Styles P, and Snoop Dogg.